AN: Hey, this is going to be a part of my newly created 'Siblings' series. Actually it is the first one. Ari= 11yrs, Ziva = 6yrs and Tali = 3yrs

A small girl with curly brown hair was sobbing into the pillow on her bed. Her whole small body trembled as she tried to control herself.

"Abba won't like it if you're still crying," a taller, gangly boy, no more than five years older than her, informed her.

"Shut up, Ari, its sore," hissed the girl, sitting up and wincing as she did so. There were tears coating her cheeks.

Ari glared at her and snapped, "Unless you want another whipping for being so weak, I suggest you shut up, Ziva."

"Shh, shh!" whispered a smaller girl with ribbons tying her light brown curls in pigtails. "Abba no like it when you cry, Zizi! He get all angry."

Ari and Ziva jumped when the little girl spoke, as if they had no idea that they were there.

"Tali! You scared me!" exclaimed Ziva and jumped off her bed (painfully may I add) and ran over to her baby sister. Ziva hugged Tali tenderly and wiped away her tears. "Why are you sad, Tali? Did you get in Abba's way?"

The dark eyed boy snorted. "You shouldn't baby her, Ziva. She has to be tough. You know that just as well as I do."

"Ta'ase li tova [give me a break]. Abba just whipped me for getting a black eye from Zeev Zimman."

Tali gave her a confused look. "He hurt you!"

Ziva nodded, rubbing her abused backside and lower back. "Ken [yes] but he said that I shouldn't have gotten any injury, he trained me better than that."

"That's unfair!" protested Ari, uncharacteristically; he was normally a warmer version of their father when it came to training. "He's my age and massive. There's no way you could've hit him without some worse injury."

Ziva shrugged, her unruly curls bouncing off her shoulders. "It is like you said, Ari. I must be tough."

Ari sighed heavily. It was times like these when he wished Eli David was a softer sort of man. He wanted to go along with his father and say that Ziva should toughen up but he was her big brother. He wanted her not to cry but to smile and laugh. She should be playing with her dolls, not being chastised for not fighting correctly. She was only six!

"Abba shouted at me," piped up Tali. "That why I come here."

Ziva frowned at her, "You should improve your English, Tali. You don't want to make Abba angry."

All three children shuddered. Their father's wrath was something they all did their very best to avoid.

"I miss Ima," sniffled Tali, tears appearing in her eyes.

Ari shook her hard. "Don't cry," he told her. "Your Ima is better away from here."

Ziva glared at the wall so Tali wouldn't see her. Two months ago their mother had just left them all without a word. Not that Ziva thought of Rivka David as her mother because the woman had always been so cold towards her children unless she wanted to show off what 'pretty darlings' they were. Ziva soon wrecked that opinion by being the best tom boy she could be. So Rivka just poured all of her 'affection' onto Tali.

"Wish we were away from all of this," muttered Ziva.

Ari rolled his eyes. "We have a duty to our country. Remember that." He recited then asked, "You have been practising your kickboxing?"

"Yes, the teacher says that I am becoming better every lesson."

"You need to be the best, Ziva." Ari told her. "Or you won't get anywhere."

His little sister rubbed her knuckles across her eyes and sniffled a little. Not being able to keep up the cold facade any longer, Ari pulled Ziva close and hugged her tightly.

"Hush, little shadow," Ari comforted her using his pet name for her because she always followed him so silently. Ziva buried her face into his chest, not crying but wanting all the comfort she could get.

Tali cocked her head to the side like an inquisitive dog. "Why Zizi crying, Ari?"

"I am not crying!" Ziva protested vehemently, crossing her skinny arms across her chest.